Improvement in step-ladders



C. F. BARN'AR D.

Step-Ladders.

lPatentenAprn 21,1874;

ATTUBNEYS.

UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE.

,cEARLEs E. RARNARD, 0E NEw YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEP-LADDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,909, dated April21,1874; application led February 7, 1874.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. BARN-` ARD, of the city, county, andState of New `York, have invented a new and useful Improvement inFolding Step-Ladder, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved step-ladder, shown as extendedfor use. Fig.

`2 is a rearview of the same, parts being broken away to show theconstruction. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same folded for storage. Fig.4is a detail section, taken through the -line x m, Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention will rst be fully described, and then pointed out in theclaims.

A B are the side boards of the step-ladder, which .are connected witheach other by the steps G. The ends of the steps C are hinged to theside A by hinges D attached to the said side, and to the lower side ofthe ends of the said steps, so that the pivots of the said hinges may beat, or a little below, the under surface of the steps. The other ends ofthe steps G are hinged to the side B by the hinges E, one plate or partof which is attached to the side B, and its other part or plate crossesthe end of the steps, is

bent at right angles to underlap the end of the steps, and is secured tothe under side of the steps. By this arrangement, all the screws thathold the hinges enter across the grain of the wood, a-nd thus take aiirmer hold.

The plates of the hinges E should be so long that their pivots may be alittle above thesteps C, so that the sides A B and steps C may foldclosely together.

The steps C must be attached to the sides A B in an inclined position,so that they may be horizontal when the ladder is extended for use. Fromthis cause one of the sides will be a little in advance of the otherwhen the ladder is folded, as shown in Fig. 3.

F G are the legs, which are pivoted, near their upper ends, to the outersides of the stiles A B, near their upper ends, and which are made ofsuch a length as to hold the ladder in proper position when extended.The inner sides of the upper ends of the legs F G are inclined, so thattheir lower ends may their slots, is formed a notch to receive the'screws, and thus lock the legs F G in place when extended. To the rearside of the legs F G, a little below their pivots, are pivoted the upperends of the braces I J. The braces I J, when the ladder is extended,cross each other, and their lower ends are secured to the rear sides ofthe lower ends of the legs F G by the cross-head pivoted catches K, theheads .of which pass through slots in the plates L,

and, when turned one-quarter around, securely lock said braces and legstogether. The outer ends of the pivoted catches K should be so formedthat they may be conveniently turned to fasten and unfasten the braces.

The braces I J, at their point of intersection, are halved to eachother. To the inner surface of one of the sides A B, just below one ofthe steps O- is attached a plate, M, which is bent at right angles, soas to lie along the under side of said step, and its end edge is notchedto receivea screw, N, attached to said step, so that it may be securedby a hand-nut, O, screwed upon the said screw N.

By this construction, the sides and steps of the step-ladderwill be heldrigidly in pla-ce when said ladder is extended.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with sides A B and steps G, ofthe plate M, screw N, and handnut O, as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, in a folding step-ladder, of cross-head catches K,slotted plates L, pivoted braces I J, and pivoted legs F G, as and forthe purpose specified.

cHARLEs E. RARNARD.

